Ryo Hisatsune in the lead, Scottie Scheffler advances past the cut at Phoenix.

SCOTTSDALE, Arizz. — Ryo Hisatsune transformed a water ball into a birdie, thrilling the energized spectators at the Phoenix Open.

Scottie Scheffler performed as expected from the world’s No. 1 player, ensuring he made yet another cut.

Hisatsune made a chip-in for birdie after his ball landed in the water on the par-4 17th hole, finishing with a bogey-free 8-under 63 on Friday, propelling him to the top of the leaderboard in the second round of the Phoenix Open.

“It was very lucky,” Hisatsune remarked through an interpreter. “A nice tee shot, but I kind of pulled it a little bit into the water. Some more reset and make it, (so) going to be more fun.”

Scheffler found his round more enjoyable compared to his opening 73, which had put him at risk of missing a cut for the first time since the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Classic.

After adjusting his grip, Scheffler recorded a 2-under 33 on the front nine, moving closer to the cut line, and solidified his position with four birdies on the back, extending his streak to 66 consecutive cuts made, the longest active streak on the PGA Tour. His 3-foot birdie on No. 18 concluded a bogey-free 65, bringing him to 4 under, seven shots behind.

And the seven-shot gap is not considered unbridgeable.

Scheffler has secured victories twice while trailing by more than seven shots, including the 2022 Phoenix Open, where he overcame a nine-shot deficit for his first PGA Tour win.

<p"I felt a bit lost out there at times yesterday, so today felt a lot better, felt more in control of my game," he stated. "You can obviously see that through the cleaner card today."

Two-time Phoenix Open champion Brooks Koepka faced a more challenging round, finishing at 2 over and missing the cut in his second tournament since being reinstated by the PGA Tour. He followed an opening 75 with a 69.

Two Japanese players made significant impacts on another warm day at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.

Two-time Phoenix Open champion Hideki Matsuyama recorded six consecutive birdies to shoot 64 in the morning wave, taking the lead at 10 under.

He was overtaken by his compatriot in the afternoon.

Hisatsune was at 5 under after two birdies on the front nine, then energized the enthusiastic crowds by going 6 under in a five-hole stretch—highlighted by his chip-in at 17—to reach 11-under 131.

Overnight leader Chris Gotterup shot 71 to join Pierceson Coody (68) at 8 under.

Hisatsune tied for second at Torrey Pines last week after missing the cut in the season-opening Sony Open. He achieved four top-10 finishes as a PGA Tour rookie last year.

The 23-year-old began his closing surge with birdies on 13 and 14, then made an 8-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th. Hisatsune thrilled the crowd at the stadium par-3 16th by sinking a 7-foot birdie putt and smiled shyly at his chip-in on 17 after his tee shot landed left in the pond.

He will be paired with Matsuyama on Saturday in the third round.

“It’s some dreams on my pairing,” Hisatsune expressed.

Matsuyama started with a bogey-free 68 and began his second round with three consecutive pars.

Then he began to hit it close.

Matsuyama birdied the par-5 13th despite his drive landing left in the desert and hit his approach to 3 feet on the 498-yard par-4 14th for another birdie. He added another from 3 feet and excited the already-enthusiastic crowd with a 29-foot birdie putt on 16.

Matsuyama achieved a two-putt birdie on the reachable par-4 17th and capped a 6-under 30 on the back nine with a 4-foot birdie putt on No. 18. He hit it within 10 feet for two additional birdies on Nos. 4-5 but bogeyed the par-4 ninth after pulling his tee shot into the thick left rough.

“It’s a great golf course,” Matsuyama stated through an interpreter. “You have to play well here, strike the ball well to perform well, and the crowd gets me geared up for that.”

Matsuyama will have a favorable pairing in the third round with Hisatsune.

That could change if Scheffler mounts another charge.